Xuanwu Lake, Nanjing's largest park, located at the foot of Mt. Zhongshan in Nanjing, is a beautiful scenic area under government protection. It is in the northeast portion of Nanjing City near the railway station. The lake covers an area of 444 hectares with a coastline of 15 kilometers in circumferences.

In the long history of China, the lake had been used by many dynasties as an ideal place to train their waterborne troops and the paradise for many emperors and officers in ancient times. But it once had been converted into farmland in Northern Song Dynasty. Xuanwu Lake didn't appear until Ming Dynasty, when Emperor Zhu Yuanzhang ordered the lake to be the moat around the city. Later the lake was restored and opened as a park in 1909 called Yuanwu Lake Park. For the name "Xuanwu", there is a legend. In the Southern Dynasty a black dragon was seen in the lake. Chinese Daoists believed that the black dragon was called Xuanwu. Hence the lake was called Xuwu Lake.

There are five isles in the lake: Huan Isle, Ying Isle, Liang Isle, Cui Isle and Ling Isle. On Huan Isle, the leaves of the willow trees sway gently as the breeze sweeps across your face. Nuona Tower on the island offers peaceful retreat. The Ying Isle is famous for its cherry blossoms, which turns the lake fragrant during the spring. There is also the Lotus Garden on this isle. Liang Isle is the oldest isle and is the location of the annual grand exhibition of Chrysanthemums as well as the Hushen temple. On Cui Isle, there are dark green pines, emerald cypresses, poetic willows, and tall bamboos. The Ling Isle gives a great view of the mountains. Here, Wumiao Zha is a historical structure that is worth visiting.